Vol. 473 No. 5
74 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education if she accepts the principle that a teacher representative should sit on the appeals board she envisages to allow parents to appeal any teacher's decision which materially affects the education of a student. [1813/97]
Section 55 of the Education Bill, 1997, provides that each appeals committee will consist of the director of the education board, an inspector seconded to the education board and a barrister or solicitor of not less than ten years' standing. This will provide a forum independent of the original decision-makers which can adjudicate on serious complaints when necessary. The inspector will have previously been a teacher and indeed it is possible that the director will have had teaching experience.
Schools are complex organisations, dealing with matters of the most fundamental interest to students and their parents. From time to time difficulties or disagreements may arise between the various parties involved. At present, the vast majority of difficulties are capable of resolution within the individual school, by reference to the board of management, if necessary.
The appeals procedure set out in the Education Bill, 1997, will not replace existing procedures in schools for the resolution of problems. Where decisions cannot be resolved within the school, recourse to an independent appeals procedure may be necessary. For this purpose, each education board will be obliged to establish an appeals procedure in accordance with the directions of the Minister.
The Bill provides that appeals must first be dealt with by the board of management of the school. The appeals committee will be the final forum for appeals of decisions. The appeals procedure will include safeguards against frivolous and mischievous appeals and it will deal with very serious grievances with speed and finality.
